Mobile dock for small craft

ABSTRACT

A mobile dock for small craft is described, comprising a ship whose hull has relatively straight and low sides and at least one substantially flat side deck. A track is mounted on the deck to hold movable assemblies. Each assembly has an elongated pole member pivotally movable in a transverse plane. A pair of pole members when extended out horizontally from the deck hold the hull of a small craft.

il United States atent 1151 3,636,908 Feldman et al. 1 Jan. 25, 1972 [54] MOBILE DOCK FOR SMALL CRAFT 3,430,600 3/1969 Lezak ..1 14/230 [72] Inventors: Albert Feldman, 4 Upton Road; Robert PrimmyEmmine, 1-rygveM'Blix Feldman, 7 Larms Road, both of, Anamerdoseph Zane" Framingham, Mass. 01701 22 Filed: July 29, 1969 1571 ABSTRACT [21] APPL No; 845,759 A mobile dock for small craft is described, comprising a ship whose hull has relatively straight and low sides and at least one substantially flat side deck. A truck is mounted on the deck to U-S. movable assgmblie5 Each aggcrnbIy has an clong lcd [51] Int. Cl ole member pivotally movable in a transverse plane A pair [58] Field ofSearch ..1l4/23O of pole members when extended out horizontally from the deck hold the hull ofa small craft. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1965 Howard ..l14/23O 1 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTE!) m2 5 [9?2 SHEET 2 OF 2 FL-I0. 4

' FIG. 3

MOBILE DOCK FOR SMALL CRAFT BACKGROUND OF INVENTION This invention relates to a mobile dock or mother ship which can service and accommodate a number of small boats such as sailboats and small motor launches.

With the great increase in the interest in boating in the United States, docking areas such as marinas and the like have become excessively crowded and costly. Further, such docking and service areas can only be located where land is available for that purpose. Accordingly, small craft must frequently travel great distances out of their normal path to obtain fuel and supplies and must further often wait excessive periods of time before docking space is available.

One object of this invention is to provide a mobile slip or mother ship which can be anchored at convenient locations in an ocean, sea or lake.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a mobile dock which is useful for small craft.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a mobile dock which can safely and securely engage a small craft within a wide variety of lengths.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the description and claims which follow, taken together with the appended drawings.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The mobile dock of this invention comprises a floating vessel whose hull has relatively low sides, as for example, a houseboat. A substantially flat deck is provided which is preferably quite wide. Along the deck is an elongated track on which a number of special assemblies are movable, as for example, slideable. Each assembly has a base which moves on the track and an elongated pole member which is pivotally mounted on the base so as to be movable in a transverse plane. The pole members are normally stored in a substantially vertical position. When the assemblies are to be used for holding a small craft, a pair of assemblies is moved along the track so that the poles when lowered to the horizontal position can engage the sides or hull of the small craft holding it firmly in position, substantially perpendicular to the dock.

Although the dimensions of this invention are not critical, a useful length for the mobile dock would be that of approximately 70 feet in length with five assemblies on each side, each having pole members of approximately 23 feet in length so as to accommodate eight small craft to 36 feet in length. Conventional ropes, cable or chains can be used to raise or lower the poles and hold them in desired positions. The pole member can be a pipe or similar tubular structure, preferably covered with a cushioning material to prevent abrasion of the hull of the small craft.

In one form of the invention, the track is a U-channel having a narrow slot. The base or frame portion of the assembly is guided by a pair of slides inserted into the channel.

LII

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of this invention, showing two small craft being engaged by the pole members of the mobile dock.

FIG. 2 is a partial side elevation showing one pole member in a locked upright position.

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged plan view of a pole member in vertical position.

FIG. 4 is a front view with partial sectioning showing a pole member leaning slightly off vertical as it is being held against the cabin area.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OF INVENTION The specific example of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings shows the mobile dock 20 having a cabin 20a, a plurality of boat ties 20b and a plurality of pole ties 200, the

ties bein distributed on either side of the cabin. The sides 22 and 23 o the vessel 20 are substantially straight and relatively low. Adjacent each side are relatively flat and wide deck areas 24 and 25.

Embedded in each of the deck areas 24 and 25 is an elongated longitudinal channel of U-cross section with a narrow slot 11a. A plurality of assemblies comprising base members 15 are slideable in the channel by means of a pair of threaded bolts 12 secured to the base members 15 by nuts 13. Mounted on each base member 15 is a supporting bracket 18. The bracket 18 has a central hole and supports a coextensive upper sleeve 19. The pole member 17 is seated in the hole 18a and is also supported by the sleeve 19.

The pole member 17 is typically made from a metal pipe and covered with cushioning or resilient material to prevent abrasion on the surfaces of the small craft.

As illustrated in the drawings, the small craft 21 are positioned perpendicular to the dock 20 and are held securely by a pair of pole members 21 whose assemblies are moved so that they form an effective gripping action. Conventional ropes, wires or cables are used to secure the pole members and small craft once they are in proper position. Although the small craft 21 are shown with their bows tied to the dock 21, they can also be tied by their stern ends perpendicular to the dock 20.

I claim:

1. A mobile dock for small craft comprising:

a. a vessel whose hull has relatively low sides and which has at least one substantially flat side deck;

b. a U-shaped channel track on said deck;

c. a plurality of assemblies movable on said track;

d. each said assembly comprising a base on which an elongated pole member is pivotally movable in a transverse plane and which moves on said channel track and means engaging the interior of said channel track; said assemblies being so movable that a pair of said elongated pole members can extend out horizontally from each said deck so as to hold the hull of a small craft substantially perpendicularly against the dock. 

1. A mobile dock for small craft comprising: a. a vessel whose hull has relatively low sides and which has at least one substantially flat side deck; b. a U-shaped channel track on said deck; c. a plurality of assemblies movable on said track; d. each said assembly comprising a base on which an elongated pole member is pivotally movable in a transverse plane and which moves on said channel track and means engaging the interior of said channel track; said assemblies being so movable that a pair of said elongated pole members can extend out horizontally from each said deck so as to hold the hull of a small craft substantially perpendicularly against the dock. 